CISA confirms exploitation in the wild and lists 2024-04-15 as the remediation due date.
Patch available
Optional official sources
National CERT insights ?CERT means Computer Emergency Response Team; CSIRT is the closely related term Computer Security Incident Response Team.
Select the national-authority views to include. The exact source language is shown on each matched advisory. Your choice is remembered on this device and encoded in the shareable URL.
Official European source
ENISA European Vulnerability Database
Official EUVD identifiers, advisory evidence and known-exploited context. Missing fields are not treated as evidence of low risk.
1 current
ENISA EUVD identifier
EUVD-2023-52821
EU known exploited
A improper neutralization of special elements used in an sql command ('sql injection') in Fortinet FortiClientEMS version 7.2.0 through 7.2.2, FortiClientEMS 7.0.1 through 7.0.10 allows attacker to execute unauthorized code or commands via specially crafted packets.
EUVD state
Present in the current official mapping
Known exploitation
Recorded by ENISA since 25 Mar 2024. Evidence sources: cisa_kev, eukev_kev.
ENISA score
9.3 · CVSS 3.1
Advisory evidence
1 linked advisory record
Recommended actionPatch now
CISA confirms exploitation in the wild and lists 2024-04-15 as the remediation due date.
Patch available
01
What, why and how
Fortinet FortiClient EMS contains a SQL injection vulnerability that allows an unauthenticated attacker to execute commands as SYSTEM via specifically crafted requests.
What
Fortinet FortiClient EMS contains a SQL injection vulnerability that allows an unauthenticated attacker to execute commands as SYSTEM via specifically crafted requests.
Why
Attacker-controlled data is not kept separate from SQL query syntax, allowing the intended database operation to be changed.
How
An attacker operating through a network path may attempt exploitation without authentication or user interaction. If successful, the issue may execute code or commands in the affected security context.
What
Fortinet FortiClient EMS contains a SQL injection vulnerability that allows an unauthenticated attacker to execute commands as SYSTEM via specifically crafted requests.
Why
Attacker-controlled data is not kept separate from SQL query syntax, allowing the intended database operation to be changed.
How
An attacker operating through a network path may attempt exploitation without authentication or user interaction. If successful, the issue may execute code or commands in the affected security context.
02
Exploit reality and attack path
CVSS severity, EPSS forecast probability, public exploit material and CISA-confirmed exploitation are separate signals.
Observed exploitation ?Confirmed exploitation and public exploit material are separate signals. Attacks can occur without public proof-of-concept or exploit code.Confirmed in the wild
CISA added this CVE to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalogue on 2024-03-25. Known ransomware campaign use is recorded.
Public PoC / exploit material ?Confirmed exploitation and public exploit material are separate signals. Attacks can occur without public proof-of-concept or exploit code.None recorded
No exploit-tagged reference or CISA SSVC proof-of-concept state is currently recorded. Research may still exist outside the structured feeds.
Likely attack path
a network path → Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command ('SQL Injection') → execute code or commands in the affected security context
Attack surface
Network
Privileges required
None: unauthenticated exploitation is possible
User interaction
None
Attack complexity
Low: no specialised conditions are recorded
Security boundary
Unchanged: impact remains within the vulnerable component's security authority
Weakness ?CWE means Common Weakness Enumeration: a standard category for the underlying weakness.
CWE-89: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command ('SQL Injection'). The product constructs all or part of an SQL command using externally-influenced input from an upstream component, but it does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes special elements that could modify the intended SQL command when it is sent to a downstream component. Without sufficient removal or quoting of SQL syntax in user-controllable inputs, the generated SQL query can cause those inputs to be interpreted as SQL instead of ordinary user data.
CVSS vector ?CVSS means Common Vulnerability Scoring System. The vector records the metric values used to calculate technical severity.
Common Vulnerability Scoring System 3.1: the compact vector below is decoded into plain language.
AVNetworkAttack vector: The vulnerable component can be reached over a network.ACLowAttack complexity: No specialised conditions are required beyond attacker-controlled input.PRNonePrivileges required: The attacker does not need an account or existing privileges.UINoneUser interaction: No action by another user is required.SUnchangedScope: The security impact remains within the vulnerable component's authority.CHighConfidentiality impact: A successful attack can cause a major loss.IHighIntegrity impact: A successful attack can cause a major loss.AHighAvailability impact: A successful attack can cause a major loss.
Post-exploitation / living off the land
After compromise, an attacker may use built-in shells, scripting engines, scheduled tasks and native network utilities for discovery, persistence or movement. This is a plausible LoTL path, not evidence that it has occurred for every attack.
Only matched European and national findings are included. Language selectors and unavailable sources are omitted.
ENISA EUVD · EUVD-2023-52821Known-exploited evidence recorded
A improper neutralization of special elements used in an sql command ('sql injection') in Fortinet FortiClientEMS version 7.2.0 through 7.2.2, FortiClientEMS 7.0.1 through 7.0.10 allows attacker to execute unauthorized code or commands via specially crafted packets.
Official EUVD record ↗BSI · German · WID-SEC-2024-0605Fortinet FortiClientEMS: Mehrere Schwachstellen ermöglichen Codeausführung
Ein entfernter, anonymer Angreifer kann mehrere Schwachstellen in Fortinet FortiClient ausnutzen, um beliebigen Programmcode auszuführen.
Official advisory ↗Cyber Security Agency of Singapore · English · CSA-SB-20240313Security Bulletin 13 Mar 2024
The Cyber Security Agency of Singapore included this CVE in its official Security Bulletin 13 Mar 2024, published on 13 March 2024. Open the linked bulletin for the product, severity and reference information published in that issue.
Official advisory ↗CERT-FR · French · CERTFR-2024-AVI-0212Multiples vulnérabilités dans les produits Fortinet
De multiples vulnérabilités ont été découvertes dans les produits Fortinet . Elles permettent à un
attaquant de provoquer une exécution de code arbitraire à distance, un
contournement de la politique de sécurité et une élévation de
privilèges.
Official advisory ↗KISA KrCERT/CC · Korean · KNVD-6146美 CISA 발표 주요 Exploit 정보공유(Update. 2024-03-25)
Fortinet FortiClient EMS contains a SQL injection vulnerability that allows an unauthenticated attacker to execute commands as SYSTEM via specifically crafted requests.
Official advisory ↗KISA KrCERT/CC · Korean · KNVD-6134Fortinet 제품 보안 업데이트 권고
FortiClientEMS에서 인증되지 않은 코드 및 명령 실행 가능한 SQL Injection 취약점(CVE-2023-48788) [1]
Operational remediation based on structured source evidence.
Status ?Patch availability is based on structured fixed-version fields and authoritative update references. If no fix is verified, check the vendor advisory before making a change.
Review the linked authoritative reference and apply the recorded fixed release appropriate to the affected product branch.
Workaround
No verified workaround is recorded. If business-safe, reduce exposure to the affected interface and allow only trusted sources until authoritative guidance is available.
04
Evidence and provenance
Published 12 Mar 2024 · Last source change 21 Oct 2025, 23:05 UTC · CWE-89 · Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command ('SQL Injection')
CVE recordCVE.org · 5.1
CVSS sourceCNA
EPSS source ?The date BlackTree first stored a score for this CVE from the daily FIRST EPSS feed.FIRST · tracked since 2026-08-14
European sourceENISA EUVD · EUVD-2023-52821
Product sourceCNA
Remediation sourceCVE/CNA references
CWE sourceCNA
NVD statusNVD enriched
Core structured fields are present and their contributing authorities are shown above.
Affected versionsThe structured affected or fixed version information changed.
Before
7.2.0 ≤ 7.2.2; 7.0.1 ≤ 7.0.10 · Fixed: No fixed version is explicitly recorded in the structured CVE data.
After
FortiClientEMS: 7.2.0 ≤ 7.2.2, 7.0.1 ≤ 7.0.10 · Fixed: Please upgrade to FortiClientEMS version 7.2.3 or above; Please upgrade to FortiClientEMS version 7.0.11 or above
Technical terms and abbreviations used in this report
CVE
Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures: the public identifier for one disclosed vulnerability.
CVSS
Common Vulnerability Scoring System: a technical severity framework; it is not patching priority by itself.
EPSS
Exploit Prediction Scoring System: FIRST's estimate of the probability that exploitation activity will be observed in the next 30 days; it is a forecast, not confirmation.
CWE
Common Weakness Enumeration: the standard category describing the underlying software or hardware weakness.
CNA
CVE Numbering Authority: an organisation authorised to assign and publish CVE records.
CISA ADP
Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency Authorized Data Publisher: structured enrichment added to a CVE record.
NVD
National Vulnerability Database: NIST's enrichment service for CVE records.
CERT / CSIRT
A computer security incident response team that publishes warnings or coordinates incident response.
PoC
Proof of concept: public material that demonstrates or helps reproduce exploitation.
CSAF
Common Security Advisory Framework: a machine-readable format for security advisories.
LoTL
Living off the land: abuse of legitimate tools or system functions during an attack.
